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Council of Diversity Deans (CODD)

Council of Diversity Deans (CODD): CODD provides a cross-campus forum for Assistant and Associate Deans with college-level responsibility for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Michigan State University. The Council will provide recommendations for policies, procedures and programs that strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion within the MSU community. The Council will build a collaborative working relationship with the President, Provost and new Vice President for DEI and will inform the University’s overall action plan for DEI. CODD convenes monthly meetings to respond to DEI concerns at MSU as they arise, share DEI best practices and strategic initiatives, support one another, discuss climate issues and other DEI concerns at MSU. It advocates for structural and policy change at the university, college and unit levels.

Assistant/Associate Deans for Diversity

  • Lauren J. Gaines (Co-Chair), Assistant Dean for Access and Engagement, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
  • Terry Flennaugh (Co-Chair), Associate Dean of Access and Community Engagement, College of Education
  • Nwando Achebe, Associate Dean of Access, Faculty Development, and Strategic Implementation; University Distinguished Professor; Jack and Margaret Sweet Endowed Professor of History, College of Social Science
  • Matthew Anderson, Associate Dean, Professor, Eli Broad College of Business
  • BJ Abrams, Assistant Vice President, Inclusive Excellence and Impact
  • Terah Venzant Chambers, Associate Dean, Professor, K–12 Educational Administration, The GraduateSchool
  • Delia Fernández-Jones, Associate Dean of Inclusive Access and Faculty Affairs, College of Arts and Letters
  • Mary Ann Ferguson, Assistant Dean for Access and Community Engagement, College of Law
  • Derrick Fox, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Creative Endeavors, College of Music
  • Antomia Farrell, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Culture, Access and Belonging, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Marita Gilbert, Associate Dean of Osteopathic Engagement and Community Practice, MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Veda Hawkins, Assistant Dean for Access and Undergraduate Education; Associate Director, Office of Institutional Access, College of Social Science
  • Brian Johnson, Assistant Dean, James Madison College
  • Ellise Lee, Assistant Director of Access, Inclusivity, and Community, College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Wanda D. Lipscomb, Senior Associate Dean for Access and Inclusive Engagement, College of Human Medicine
  • Lisa Lowery, Assistant Dean for Inclusive Learning Environment, College of Human Medicine
  • M. Paola León Arizmendi, Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Academic Innovation, Lyman Briggs College
  • Alexandra Rivera, Associate Dean, Engagement and Organizational Excellence, University Libraries
  • Tamara Reid Bush, Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, College of Engineering
  • Jennie Schaeffer, Director, Office for Faculty & Academic Staff Affairs, Office for Faculty & Academic Staff Affairs
  • Isabella Tirtowalujo, Assistant Dean for Administration and Global Inclusion, International Studies and Programs
  • Krista Walker, Assistant Dean of Access and Impact, College of Nursing
  • Rosa León Zayas, Associate Dean for Access, Community and Excellence, College of Natural Sciences

Campus Resources